MEDIA RELEASE • COMMUNIQUE AUX MEDIAS • MEDIENMITTEILUNG
Cytos and Novartis Extend Collaboration Agreements
Promising preclinical achievements with Cytos’ Immunodrugs
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Zurich, Switzerland, April 28, 2003 – Cytos Biotechnology AG and Novartis Pharma AG have jointly
agreed to extend the Collaborative Research, Option and License Agreements that were announced in
October 2001. The collaboration aims to develop therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of allergy,
rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic nervous system disorders. This decision was made following
successful progress in the partnership, and achievement of promising preclinical results in an
important area of the collaboration.
Mark Dyer, Executive Vice President of Business Development at Cytos comments: “We jointly agreed
to extend the agreements as we proceed with preclinical proof-of-principle. The efficacy data
generated in Novartis’ animal model is an important step as we move towards clinical trials in an
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important disease area. The Immunodrug lead shows significant treatment effects in an in vivo
disease model, highlighting the potential for therapeutic intervention in chronic disease. Novartis
recognizes the quality of the science at Cytos and values us as a partner who brings new and
innovative approaches for major unmet medical needs.”
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Cytos’ Immunodrugs are designed to instruct the patient’s immune system to produce in a
controllable way specific antibody or T-cell responses that prevent progression of major chronic
diseases. This approach, which combines the hallmarks of classical pharmacology and vaccination,
represents a paradigm shift away from the passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies towards
an active immunization of the patient against a disease-related protein. By directionally placing a
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disease-related protein onto a highly repetitive carrier particle, Cytos’ Immunodrug technology
displays target proteins in a highly organized array. The resulting discovery lead thus mimics the
repetitive pattern of a virus and has the ability to induce strong immune responses. Taking
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advantage of the high flexibility of its Immunodrug technology, Cytos has built a pipeline of 20
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different Immunodrug candidates in different disease areas, which are being developed both inTM
house and together with Novartis. Two Immunodrug programs are in early clinical development.
For further information please contact:
Cytos Biotechnology AG
Claudine Blaser, PhD
Director Corporate Communications
Phone: +41 1 733 47 20
Fax: +41 1 733 47 18
e-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.cytos.com
Cytos Biotechnology AG • Wagistrasse 25 • Postfach • CH-8952 Zürich-Schlieren
Tel: +41 1 733 47 47 • Fax: +41 1 733 47 40 • e-Mail: [email protected] • Web: www.cytos.com
About Cytos
Cytos is a public Swiss biotechnology company that specializes in the discovery, development and
commercialization of a new class of biopharmaceutical products – the ImmunodrugsTM. ImmunodrugsTM are intended
for use in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases which afflict millions of people worldwide. Cytos’
ImmunodrugsTM aim at triggering the patient’s immune system to produce specific antibody or T-cell responses,
which fight disease processes. Cytos’ strong in-house pipeline and R&D programs are supported by a network of
collaborations with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Founded in 1995 as a spin-off from the
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, the company is located in Zurich-Schlieren. Currently, the
company has 114 employees. As of October 2002, Cytos is listed on the SWX Swiss Exchange (SWX:CYTN).
This foregoing press release may contain forward-looking statements that include words or phrases such as, “intend”, “aim
at” or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of significant uncertainties,
including scientific, business, economic and financial factors, and therefore actual results may differ significantly from
those presented. Cytos is not under any obligation to update such statements. There can be no assurance that therapeutic
entities will enter clinical trials, that clinical trial results will be predictive for future results, that therapeutic entities will
be the subject of filings for regulatory approval, that any drug candidates will receive marketing approval from the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration or equivalent regulatory authorities, or that drugs will be marketed successfully. This
document does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe or purchase any securities of Cytos.
Cytos Biotechnology AG • Wagistrasse 25 • Postfach • CH-8952 Zürich-Schlieren
Tel: +41 1 733 47 47 • Fax: +41 1 733 47 40 • e-Mail: [email protected] • Web: www.cytos.com